Inspection tester for explosives

ABSTRACT

An inspection tester that can be used anywhere as a primary screening tool by non-technical personnel to determine whether a surface contains explosives. It includes a body with a sample pad. First and second explosives detecting reagent holders and dispensers are operatively connected to the body and the sample pad. The first and second explosives detecting reagent holders and dispensers are positioned to deliver the explosives detecting reagents to the sample pad. A is heater operatively connected to the sample pad.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 10/610,904 filedJun. 30, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,294,306 entitled “Inspection Testerfor Explosives.”

The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant toContract No. W-7405-ENG-48 between the United States Department ofEnergy and the University of California for the operation of LawrenceLivermore National Laboratory.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Endeavor

The present invention relates to testing and more particularly to aninspection tester for explosives.

2. State of Technology

U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,166 for an apparatus and method for rapid detectionof explosives residue from the deflagration signature thereof issuedJun. 10, 1997 to Herbert O. Funsten and David J. McComas and assigned toThe Regents of the University of California provides the following stateof the art information, “Explosives are a core component of nuclear,biological, chemical and conventional weapons, as well as of terroristdevices such as car, luggage, and letter bombs. Current methods fordetecting the presence of explosives include vapor detection, bulkdetection, and tagging. However, these methods have significantdifficulties dependent upon the nature of the signature that isdetected. See, Fetterolf et al., Portable Instrumentation: New Weaponsin the War Against Drugs and Terrorism,” Proc. SPIE 2092 (1993) 40,Yinon and Zitrin, in Modern Methods and Applications in Analysis ofExplosions, (Wiley, New York, 1993) Chap. 6; and references therein.Vapor detection is achieved using trained animals, gas chromatography,ion mobility mass spectrometry, and bioluminescence, as examples. All ofthese techniques suffer from the inherently low vapor pressures of mostexplosives. Bulk detection of explosives may be performed using x-rayimaging which cannot detect the explosives themselves, but ratherdetects metallic device components. Another method for bulk detectioninvolves using energetic x-rays to activate nitrogen atoms in theexplosives, thereby generating positrons which are detected. Thistechnique requires an x-ray generator and a minimum of several hundredgrams of explosives. Bulk detection is also accomplished using thermalneutron activation which requires a source of neutrons and a.gamma.-radiation detector. Thus, bulk detection is not sensitive totrace quantities of explosives and requires large, expensiveinstrumentation. Tagging requires that all explosives be tagged with,for example, an easily detected vapor. However, since tagging is notmandatory in the United States, this procedure is clearly not reliable.It turns out that there are no technologies for performing accurate,real-time (<6 sec) detection and analysis of trace explosives in situ.Only trained dogs can achieve this goal.

It is known that surfaces in contact with explosives (for example,during storage, handling, or device fabrication) will readily becomecontaminated with explosive particulates as a result of their inherentstickiness. This phenomenon is illustrated in studies that show largepersistence of explosives on hands, even after several washings (J. D.Twibell et al., “Transfer of Nitroglycerine to Hands During Contact withCommercial Explosives,” J. Forensic Science 27 (1982) 783; J. D. Twibellet al., “The Persistence of Military Explosives on Hands,” J. ForensicScience 29 (1984) 284). Furthermore, cross contamination in which asecondary surface is contaminated by contact with a contaminated primarysurface can also readily occur. For example, a measurable amount ofammonium nitrate (AN) residue has been found on the lease documents fora rental truck, and significant amounts of the explosives PETN(pentaerythritol tetranitrate) and/or AN have been found on clothing andinside vehicles of suspects in two well-publicized bombings. Therefore,explosive residue will likely persist in large amounts on the explosivepackaging and environs, as well as on the individuals involved inbuilding the explosive device, which can provide an avenue for detectionof the presence of explosives.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,584 for a method for chemical detection issued Oct.2, 1997 to Daryl Sunny Mileaf and Noe Esau Rodriquez, II provides thefollowing state of the art information, “a method for detecting a targetsubstance which includes collecting a substance sample; introducing thesubstance sample into a substance card having at least one preselectedreagent responsive to the presence of the target substance and having alight-transmissive chamber; and inserting the substance card into asubstance detector device having a photosensor and adapted to receivethe substance card. Once the substance detector card has been insertedinto the substance detector, the method continues by mixing thesubstance sample with the preselected reagents for a preselected mixingperiod, thus producing a measurand having a target substance reaction.”

U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,730 for a dry transfer method for the preparation ofexplosives test samples issued Oct. 29, 2002 to Robert T. Chamberlainand assigned to The United States of America as represented by theSecretary of Transportation provides the following state of the artinformation, “method of preparing samples for testing explosive and drugdetectors of the type that search for particles in air. A liquidcontaining the substance of interest is placed on a flexible Teflon®surface and allowed to dry, then the Teflon® surface is rubbed onto anitem that is to be tested for the presence of the substance of interest.The particles of the substance of interest are transferred to the itembut are readily picked up by an air stream or other sampling device andcarried into the detector.”

SUMMARY

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description. Applicants are providing thisdescription, which includes drawings and examples of specificembodiments, to give a broad representation of the invention. Variouschanges and modifications within the spirit and scope of the inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art from this descriptionand by practice of the invention. The scope of the invention is notintended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed and theinvention covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theclaims.

The present invention provides an inspection tester. The inspectiontester can be used anywhere as a primary screening tool by non-technicalpersonnel to determine whether a surface contains explosives. Theinspection tester comprises a body with a sample pad operativelyconnected to the body. A first reagent holder and dispenser isoperatively connected to the body and the sample pad. The first reagentholder and dispenser contains a first explosives detecting reagent(reagent A) and is positioned to deliver the first explosives detectingreagent to the sample pad. A second reagent holder and dispenser isoperatively connected to the body and the sample pad. The second reagentholder and dispenser contains a second explosives detecting reagent(reagent B) and is positioned to deliver the second explosives detectingreagent to the sample pad. A heater is operatively connected to thesample pad.

The inspection tester uses a simple and rapid method of operation. Thesample pad is exposed to a suspect substance. This may be accomplishedby the sample pad being swiped across a surface containing the suspectsubstance or the pad may be exposed to the suspect substance in otherways such as adding the suspect substance to the sample pad. The firstreagent activation unit is activated depositing the first reagent(reagent A) onto the sample pad with the suspect substance. If thesample pad becomes colored, it's positive for explosives. If no colorappears then the additional steps are performed. In the next step, theheater is activated. If a color appears on the sample pad, the testpositive for explosives. If no color appears then the additional step isperformed. In the next step, the second reagent activation unit isactivated depositing the second reagent (reagent B) onto the sample padwith the suspect substance. If the sample pad becomes colored, the testis positive for explosives. If no color appears then the test isnegative for explosives.

The invention is susceptible to modifications and alternative forms.Specific embodiments are shown by way of example. It is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the particular forms disclosed. Theinvention covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate specific embodiments of theinvention and, together with the general description of the inventiongiven above, and the detailed description of the specific embodiments,serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of an inspection testerfor explosives constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the inspection tester forexplosives illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of an inspection tester forexplosives constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of an inspection tester forexplosives constructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and the following detailed description,detailed information about the invention is provided including thedescription of specific embodiments. The detailed description serves toexplain the principles of the invention. The invention is susceptible tomodifications and alternative forms. The invention is not limited to theparticular forms disclosed. The invention covers all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the claims.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a top view and a bottomview of one embodiment of an inspection tester for explosivesconstructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated.This embodiment of the present invention is designated generally by thereference numeral 100. The inspection tester 100 is an all-inclusive,inexpensive, and disposable device.

The inspection tester 100 comprises a sample collection unit 106attached to body section 101. Two reagent activation units, activationunit 102 (for reagent A) and activation unit 103 (for reagent B), areoperatively connected to the body 101. Two reagent holders, reagentholder 104 (reagent A) and reagent holder 105 (reagent B) areoperatively connected to the sample collection unit 106 and the reagentactivation units 102 and 103. A heater 107 is operatively connected tothe sample collection unit 106.

The structural details of embodiment of an inspection tester forexplosives constructed in accordance with the present invention havingbeen described the operation of the inspection tester 100 will now beconsidered. The inspection tester 100 uses a simple and rapid proceduresummarized by the following four step operation:

Step #1—The sample collection unit 106 is exposed to the suspectsubstance. This may be accomplished by the sample collection unit 106being swiped across a surface containing the suspect substance or thesample collection unit 106 may be exposed to the suspect substance inother ways such as adding the suspect substance to the sample collectionunit 106.

Step #2—The reagent activation unit 102 (for reagent A) is activateddepositing reagent A from reagent holder 104 onto the sample collectionunit 106 with the suspect substance. If the sample collection unit 106becomes colored, it's positive for explosives. If no color appears thenthe additional steps are performed.

Step #3—The heater 107 is activated. If a color appears on the samplecollection unit 106, it's positive for explosives. If no color appearsthen the additional step is performed.

Step #4—The reagent activation unit 103 (for reagent B) is activateddepositing reagent B from reagent holder 105 onto the sample collectionunit 106 with the suspect substance. If the sample collection unit 106becomes colored, it's positive for explosives. If no color appears thenthe test is negative for explosives.

The particular embodiment of the inspection tester 100 has detectionlimits between 0.1 to 100 nanograms, depending on the type of explosivespresent. The chemistry reaction scheme, the types of chemicals, theconcentrations, the quantity, and the heat, have been optimized toprovide the best results. A large number of common military andindustrial explosives can be easily detected such as HMX, RDX, NG, TATB,Tetryl, PETN, TNT, DNT, TNB, DNB and NC. Many more compounds are beingadded to this list.

The inspection tester 100 is extremely fast, sensitive, very easy toimplement, and has virtually no false positives. The inspection tester100 is inexpensive and disposable. The inspection tester 100 can be usedvirtually anywhere, car portal checkpoints, airports, first responders,Federal, State, and local agencies. The inspection tester 100 can beused as a primary screening tool by non technical personnel to determinewhether a surface contains explosives. Explosive Ordinance Disposalteams cannot simply explode suspect packages for concerns of disbursingradioactive material, biological agents, or chemical agents.

The particular embodiment of an inspection tester 100 will now bedescribed in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 1 a swab 106 is attachedto one end of a pencil sized wand 101. The other end of the wand 101serves as a handle. The swab 106 can be made of cotton, paper, polymer,or various other materials that will serve to retain and/or collect asample. The wand 101 can be made of plastic, wood, metal, or variousother materials. The swab 106 is attached to the wand 101 by anysuitable means such as glue, heating, crimping or various other means ofattachment.

Two slider buttons, slider button A and slider button B, are positionedto slide axially along the wand 101. The slider button A is designatedby the reference numeral 102 and the slider button B is designated bythe reference numeral 103. The slider button A and slider button B areheld in sliding engagement relative to wand 101 by a retainer 108attached to wand 101. A reagent holder A is positioned along wand 101between slider button A and swab 106. A reagent holder B is positionedalong wand 101 between slider button A and swab 106. The reagent holderA is designated by the reference numeral 104 and the reagent holder B isdesignated by the reference numeral 105. The reagent in reagent holder Acontains Meisenheimer complexes. The reagent in reagent holder Bprovides a Griess reaction. The Meisenheimer complexes and Griessreaction are well known in the art and need not be described here.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the inspection tester 100. The bottom ofthe retainer 108, the reagent holder A, and the reagent holder B areshown near the end of the wand 101. A heater 107 is attached to the endof the wand 101. The heater is located beneath the swab 106 and incontact with the swab 106. The heater 107 is a chemical heater. Thistype of heater is well known in the art and need not be described here.Other type of heaters such as electrical heaters can be used for heater107.

Operation of the inspection tester 100 can be described according to thefollowing simple four-step process:

STEP 1) A suspect surface is swiped with the swab 106. This will causeany explosives residue to be colleted and held by the swab 106.

STEP 2) The slider button A, reference numeral 102, is pressed so thatslider button A moves along the wand 101 toward swab 106. This causesthe reagent holder A, reference numeral 104, to be moved into contactwith swab 106. The regent A in reagent holder A is deposited on the swab106 and contacts any explosives residue that has been collected by swab106. If the swab 107 becomes colored, the test is positive forexplosives. If no color appears the test for explosives is negative.

STEP 3) The heater 107 is activated. This causes the swab 107, reagentA, and any explosives residue to become heated. If the swab 107 nowbecomes colored, the test is positive for explosives. If no colorappears the test for explosives is negative.

STEP 4) The slider button B, reference numeral 103, is pressed so thatslider button B moves along the wand 101 toward swab 106. This causesthe reagent holder B, reference numeral 103, to be moved into contactwith swab 106. The regent B in reagent holder B is deposited on the swab106 and contacts any explosives residue that has been collected by swab106. If the swab 107 becomes colored, the test is positive forexplosives. If no color appears the test for explosives is negative.

The operation of the inspection tester for explosives 100 is extremelyfast, sensitive, low-cost, very easy to implement, and has virtually nofalse positives. The operation describe above takes approximately 15seconds. In practice, the inspection tester for explosives 100 can beused anywhere as a primary screening tool by non technical personnel todetermine whether a surface contains explosives. The inspection testerfor explosives 100 has many important uses. For example, explosiveordinance disposal teams cannot simply explode suspect packages forconcerns of disbursing radioactive material, biological agents, orchemical agents. The inspection tester for explosives 100 provides afast, sensitive, low-cost, very easy to implement system for testing thesuspected packages. The inspection tester for explosives 100 isinexpensive and disposable.

The inspection testers 100 can be stored and carried in a test kit thatwould contain hundreds of the disposable inspection tester forexplosives 100. The inspection tester for explosives 100 can be usedvirtually anywhere, car portal checkpoints, airports, first responders,Federal, State, and local agencies. The inspection tester for explosives100 has detection limits between 0.1 to 100 nanograms, depending on thetype of explosives present. A large number of common military andindustrial explosives can be easily detected such as HMX, RDX, NG, TATB,Tetryl, PETN, TNT, DNT, TNB, DNB and NC.

Referring now to FIG. 3 another embodiment of an inspection tester forexplosives constructed in accordance with the present invention isillustrated. This embodiment is designated generally by the referencenumeral 300. The inspection tester 300 comprises a body 303 with asample pad 306 operatively connected to the body 301. A first explosivesdetecting reagent 304 is contained in a first reagent holder anddispenser 302 that is operatively connected to the body 301 and thesample pad 306. The first reagent holder and dispenser 301 containingthe first explosives detecting reagent 304 is positioned to deliver thefirst explosives detecting reagent 304 to the sample pad 306. A secondexplosives detecting reagent 305 is contained in a second reagent holderand dispenser 303 operatively connected to the body 301 and the samplepad 306. The second reagent holder and dispenser 303 containing thesecond explosives detecting reagent 305 is positioned to deliver thesecond explosives detecting reagent 303 to the sample pad 306. A heater307 is operatively connected to the sample pad 306.

The sample pad in the embodiment 300 comprises a swab 306 that isattached to one end of an elongated wand 301. The other end of the wand301 serves as a handle. The swab 306 can be made of cotton, paper,polymer, or various other materials that will serve to retain and/orcollect a sample. The wand 301 can be made of plastic, wood, metal, orvarious other materials. The swab 306 is attached to the wand 301 by anysuitable means such as glue, heating, crimping or various other means ofattachment.

The first reagent holder and dispenser 302 contains the first explosivesdetecting reagent 304 (reagent A) and the second reagent holder anddispenser 303 contains the second explosives detecting reagent 305(reagent B). The reagent A contains Meisenheimer complexes. The reagentB provides a Griess reaction. The Meisenheimer complexes and Griessreaction are well known in the art and need not be described here.

The first reagent holder and dispenser 302 is positioned to deliver thefirst explosives detecting reagent (reagent A) 304 to the swab 306. Thesecond reagent holder and dispenser 303 is positioned to deliver thesecond explosives detecting reagent (reagent B) 305 to the swab 306. Thefirst and second reagent holders and dispensers 302 and 303 aresqueezable vials with internal valves 308 and 309 respectively thatdeliver the first explosives detecting reagent (reagent A) 304 and thesecond explosives detecting reagent (reagent B) 305 to the swab 306.This type of squeezable vial is well know in the art and is readilyavailed for purchase from many suppliers.

The heater 307 is attached to the end of the wand 301. The heater islocated beneath the swab 306 and in contact with the swab 306. Theheater 307 is a chemical heater. This type of heater is well known inthe art and need not be described here. Other type of heaters such aselectrical heaters can be used for heater 307.

The structural details of embodiment of an inspection tester forexplosives constructed in accordance with the present invention havingbeen described the operation of the inspection tester 300 will now beconsidered. The inspection tester 300 uses a simple and rapid proceduresummarized by the following four step operation:

STEP 1) A suspect surface is swiped with the swab 306. This will causeany explosives residue to be colleted and held by the swab 306.

STEP 2) The squeezable vial 302 is pressed dispensing reagent A 304through internal valve 308 onto swab 306. The regent A 304 contacts anyexplosives residue that has been collected by swab 306. If the swab 307becomes colored, the test is positive for explosives. If no colorappears the test for explosives is negative to this point.

STEP 3) The heater 307 is activated. This causes the swab 307, reagent A304, and any explosives residue to become heated. If the swab 307 nowbecomes colored, the test is positive for explosives. If no colorappears the test for explosives is negative to this point.

STEP 4) The squeezable vial 303 is pressed dispensing reagent B 305through internal valve 309 onto swab 306. The regent B 305 contacts anyexplosives residue that has been collected by swab 306. If the swab 307becomes colored, the test is positive for explosives. If no colorappears the test for explosives is negative.

The inspection tester for explosives 300 provides a fast, sensitive,low-cost, very easy to implement system for testing the suspectedpackages. The inspection tester for explosives 300 is inexpensive anddisposable.

The inspection testers 300 can be stored and carried in a test kit thatwould contain hundreds of the disposable inspection tester forexplosives 300. The inspection tester for explosives 300 can be usedvirtually anywhere, car portal checkpoints, airports, first responders,Federal, State, and local agencies. The inspection tester for explosives300 has detection limits between 0.1 to 100 nanograms, depending on thetype of explosives present. A large number of common military andindustrial explosives can be easily detected such as HMX, RDX, NG, TATB,Tetryl, PETN, TNT, DNT, TNB, DNB and NC.

Referring now to FIG. 4 yet another embodiment of an inspection testerfor explosives constructed in accordance with the present invention isillustrated. This further embodiment is designated generally by thereference numeral 400. The inspection tester 400 comprises a body 401with a sample pad 406 operatively connected to the body 401. A firstexplosives detecting reagent 404 (reagent A) is contained in a firstreagent holder and dispenser 402 that is operatively connected to thebody 401 and the sample pad 406. The first reagent holder and dispenser402 containing the first explosives detecting reagent 404 is positionedto deliver the first explosives detecting reagent 404 to the sample pad406. A second explosives detecting reagent 405 (reagent B) is containedin a second reagent holder and dispenser 403 operatively connected tothe body 401 and the sample pad 406. The second reagent holder anddispenser 403 containing the second explosives detecting reagent 405 ispositioned to deliver the second explosives detecting reagent 403 to thesample pad 406. A heater 407 is operatively connected to the sample pad406.

The sample pad in the embodiment 400 comprises a disk shaped cotton pad406 that is attached to the body 401. The pad 406 can be made of cotton,paper, polymer, or various other materials that will serve to retainand/or collect a sample. The body 401 can be made of polymer, plastic,wood, metal, or various other materials. The pad 406 is attached to thebody 401 by any suitable means such as thermoset, glue, or various othermeans of attachment.

The first reagent holder and dispenser 402 contains the first explosivesdetecting reagent 404 (reagent A) and the second reagent holder anddispenser 403 contains the second explosives detecting reagent 405(reagent B). The reagent A contains Meisenheimer complexes. The reagentB provides a Griess reaction. The Meisenheimer complexes and Griessreaction are well known in the art and need not be described here.

The first reagent holder and dispenser 402 is positioned to deliver thefirst explosives detecting reagent (reagent A) 404 to the pad 406. Thesecond reagent holder and dispenser 403 is positioned to deliver thesecond explosives detecting reagent (reagent B) 405 to the pad 406. Thefirst and second reagent holders and dispensers 402 and 403 aresqueezable vials with internal valves 408 and 409 respectively thatdeliver the first explosives detecting reagent (reagent A) 404 and thesecond explosives detecting reagent (reagent B) 405 to the pad 406. Thistype of squeezable vial is well know in the art and is readily availedfor purchase from many suppliers.

The heater 407 is located beneath the pad 406 and in contact with thepad 406. The heater 407 is an electrical heater with a heating elementextending in zig zag arrangements and electrical leads 410 and 411. Theelectrical leads 410 and 411 can be connected to an external battery 412with corresponding lead holes 413 and 414. Other types of heaters can beused for the heater 407, such as chemical heaters.

The structural details of embodiment of an inspection tester forexplosives constructed in accordance with the present invention havingbeen described the operation of the inspection tester 400 will now beconsidered. The inspection tester 400 uses a simple and rapid proceduresummarized by the following four step operation:

STEP 1) A suspect surface is swiped with the pad 406. This will causeany explosives residue to be colleted and held by the pad 406.

STEP 2) The squeezable vial 402 is pressed dispensing reagent A 404through internal valve 408 onto pad 406. The regent A 404 contacts anyexplosives residue that has been collected by pad 406. If the pad 407becomes colored, the test is positive for explosives. If no colorappears the test for explosives is negative to this point.

STEP 3) The heater 407 is activated. This causes the pad 407, reagent A404, and any explosives residue to become heated. If the pad 407 nowbecomes colored, the test is positive for explosives. If no colorappears the test for explosives is negative to this point.

STEP 4) The squeezable vial 403 is pressed dispensing reagent B 405through internal valve 409 onto pad 406. The regent B 405 contacts anyexplosives residue that has been collected by pad 406. If the pad 407becomes colored, the test is positive for explosives. If no colorappears the test for explosives is negative.

In one use of the inspection tester 400 provides a simple, chemical,field spot-test by to provide a rapid screen for the presence of a broadrange of explosive residues. The inspection tester 400 is fast,extremely sensitive, low-cost, very easy to implement, and provides avery low rate of false positives. The inspection tester for explosives400 provides a fast, sensitive, low-cost, very easy to implement systemfor testing the suspected packages. The inspection tester for explosives400 is inexpensive and disposable. The inspection tester for explosives400 has detection limits between 0.1 to 100 nanograms, depending on thetype of explosives present. A large number of common military andindustrial explosives can be easily detected such as HMX, RDX, NG, TATB,Tetryl, PETN, TNT, DNT, TNB, DNB and NC. The inspection tester 400 issmall enough that a number of them can fit in a pocket or brief case.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and have been described in detail herein.However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended tobe limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention isto cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the followingappended claims.

1. A method of testing an object for explosives by determining whether acolor appears indicating the presence of explosives, comprising thefollowing steps in the following order: swiping the object with a samplepad, providing a first reagent for detecting explosives, delivering saidfirst reagent to said sample pad, if color appears it indicates thepresence of explosives, if no color appears the next step is performed,heating said sample pad, viewing said sample pad to observe any colorchange in said sample pad, if color appears it indicates the presence ofexplosives, if no color appears the next step is performed, providing asecond reagent for detecting explosives, delivering said second reagentto said sample pad, if color appears it indicates the presence ofexplosives, if no color appears the next step is performed, heating saidsample pad, and viewing said sample pad to observe any color change insaid sample pad, if color appears it indicates the presence ofexplosives, if no color appears the test is negative for explosives. 2.A method for detecting the presence of explosive elements by determiningwhether a color appears indicating the presence of explosives comprisingthe following steps in the following order: swiping an object to obtaina test sample using a sample element having a swipe pad; placing saidsample element in a sample holder in a testing device and retaining saidsample element with a sample retainer; applying a first reagent fluidfrom a fluid retainer on said swipe pad, if color appears it indicatesthe presence of explosives, if no color appears the next step isperformed; activating a heater disposed under said sample element;heating said swipe pad to a temperature to activate said first reagentfluid with said test sample; viewing said swipe pad to observe any colorchange in said test sample, if color appears it indicates the presenceof explosives, if no color appears the next step is performed; applyinga second reagent fluid from a second fluid retainer on said swipe pad;and viewing said swipe pad to observe any color change in said testsample, if color appears it indicates the presence of explosives.
 3. Themethod for detecting the presence of explosive elements of claim 2wherein said first reagent fluid comprises Meisenheimer complexes. 4.The method for detecting the presence of explosive elements of claim 2wherein said second reagent fluid provides a Griess reaction.
 5. Themethod for detecting the presence of explosive elements of claim 2including the following steps: if no color appears after applying asecond reagent fluid from a second fluid retainer, activating a heaterdisposed under said sample element; heating said swipe pad to atemperature to activate said second reagent fluid with said test sample;and viewing said sample pad to observe any color change in said samplepad, if color appears it indicates the presence of explosives, if nocolor appears the test is negative for explosives.